By criminalising their lifestyle, the government will push Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people closer to the edge
There is nothing new about prejudice against the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community: it dates back centuries. The fury and hurt caused by a “joke” made by the comedian Jimmy Carr, who described the murder of hundreds of thousands of Romany and Sinti Gypsies by the Nazis as a “positive” in a Netflix special in December, is a blunt reminder of its persistence.
Ministers are among those to have voiced strong disapproval. Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, pointed out that Ofcom, the UK regulator, would soon gain increased powers over streaming services. But Carr’s routine, and the laughter that was the initial reaction to the offensive section, provide clear evidence that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people – of whom the last census recorded that there are 58,000 in England and Wales – are still widely regarded as a legitimate target for attitudes that would be seen as unacceptable if aimed at other minorities. One recent study found that 44.6% of those surveyed viewed GRT people negatively – more than any other minority ethnic group.
